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Canadian Ruling Party to Allow Parliament Vote on Missile Defense Cooperation With U.S.
Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin’s Liberal Party is expected to hold debate in Parliament and a vote on participating in the U.S. missile defense program, Canadian Press reported yesterday (see GSN, Sept. 28). The vote, however, would be nonbinding for the Martin administration. The ruling party was previously believed to be avoiding parliamentary debate on missile defense, according to Canadian Press, because it would offer opposition party members the opportunity to express anti-American sentiments that could hurt relations between the two countries. Sources said Sunday that the Martin administration, after a week of negotiations with Conservatives, the Bloc Quebecois and the NDP, appears to have yielded to pressure in deciding to hold a vote (Canadian Press/Yahoo!News, Oct. 18). Meanwhile, Defense Minister Bill Graham told the Hill Times last week that Canada should not forgo participation in the U.S. program. “I think it is extremely dangerous for Canada to turn its back on a very important American initiative to defend ourselves and say, ‘We’re not going to have any part of this,’” Graham said. In response to criticisms of the system’s effectiveness, Graham said, “Today, the technology is perhaps not there for the type of states we’re worried about to reach North America. But the way technology is developing, in 10 years it could be and if we want to be part of this, we have to start at the beginning and work with the Americans to develop an answer to it.” “My experience is with these highly complicated military systems, is that they take time to develop,” he added. “I wouldn’t gamble on this not working. The stakes are too high.” Graham said Parliament would debate the issue and hold a vote, but that the Cabinet has final say in the matter (Kate Malloy, The Hill Times, Oct. 18).
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